At a time when most parents queue up outside elite private schools, a young IAS officer in Uttar Pradesh has made a choice that is making many pause and reflect. Chitrakoot District Magistrate Pulkit Garg, an IAS officer of 2016 batch from UP cadre, enrolled his three-year-old daughter Siya in a government Anganwadi centre, sending a subtle yet powerful message about renewed faith in public education.
There were no announcements, no photo-ops, and no attempt to create a viral moment. It was a simple, personal decision – one that has since gained attention for its sincerity rather than spectacle.
Admission Done Personally by the District Magistrate
Mr Garg admitted his daughter to the playgroup of a government Anganwadi centre attached to a composite school in Karvi’s Naya Bazaar area (Dhanush Chauraha).
What stood out was the manner in which the admission was handled. Garg reportedly visited the Anganwadi himself a few days earlier and completed the admission process personally, without delegating the task to officials or staff.
“Government Education Has Changed,” Says Pulkit Garg
The Chitrakoot DM said that government schools and Anganwadis today are very different from what they once were.
“Facilities have improved, resources are better, and the overall quality has gone up,” he said to media.
“If I can send my child to a government institution, other parents should not be scared to do the same,” Garg added, stressing that public perception needs to move beyond outdated assumptions about government-run educational centres.
Why Anganwadi Made Sense for a Three-Year-Old
IAS Garg explained that for very young children, the basics matter the most – nutrition, health care, safety, early learning, and strong values.
#Inspiring
— Indian Masterminds (@i3masterminds) February 2, 2026
Mr Pulkit Garg, 2016-batch IAS & DM of #Chitrakut, enrolled his 3-year-old daughter Siya in a government Anganwadi in Naya Bazaar, Karvi.
By personally visiting the centre and trusting public education, he’s setting an example for parents, boosting faith in… pic.twitter.com/xmDSMSNFtb
According to him, Anganwadi centres do a commendable job in providing these essentials. He urged parents, villagers, and even fellow government officials to place renewed trust in Anganwadis and government schools.
“The system becomes stronger only when people believe in it and actively participate,” he noted.
Little Siya Settles In, Wins Hearts Online
By all accounts, Siya has adjusted well to her new environment. Short videos circulating on social media show her playing with other children, learning through games, and dancing to nursery rhymes – moments that have quietly won hearts online.
Rather than creating buzz through statements, the visuals of a happy child learning in a government Anganwadi have done the talking.
About Pulkit Garg
Background, Education, and UPSC Journey
Mr Garg is a 2016-batch IAS officer of the UP cadre, born on 16 August 1992 in Delhi. He comes from an academically inclined family – his father, Pradeep Garg, is a manager at Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank, and his mother is a senior Mathematics lecturer. Pulkit Garg completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi in 2014. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination twice, securing AIR 490 in 2014 and an impressive AIR 27 in 2015 at the age of just 23, earning him a place in the IAS.
Administrative Career and Governance Initiatives
Mr Garg is currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh (appointed 28 October 2025). Over his career, he has held several important roles, including Vice Chairman of the Varanasi Development Authority (2023–2025), where he led heritage-sensitive urban projects such as “Sangeet Maarg.” In Jhansi, he served as Municipal Commissioner, spearheading the Iconic Road Project, later featured as a case study by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. He has also worked on central deputation as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and earlier served as Chief Development Officer of Siddharthnagar and Joint Magistrate of Bagpat. Known for his people-centric governance, he gained national attention in early 2026 for enrolling his daughter in a government Anganwadi to promote trust in public institutions and is also recognized for regularly engaging with citizens by sharing mid-day meals with schoolchildren to ensure quality and grassroots connection.
A Short Tenure, A Strong Message
Mr Garg has been serving as District Magistrate of Chitrakoot for just about four months, yet he has already earned appreciation for initiatives such as water conservation efforts in the district.
His decision to enroll his daughter in an Anganwadi has added another dimension to his administrative image – one that reflects personal conviction aligning with public policy.
